Texas Southern at Xavier College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/16/2018

Friday, March 16, 2018

Bridgestone Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Texas Southern Tigers travel to Bridgestone Arena to play the Xavier Musketeers on Friday, March 16, 2018. The opening line for this game has Xavier as 21.5 point favorites.

Texas Southern heads into this matchup with a mark of 12-19. They currently have a point differential of -1.5 as they are averaging 77.3 points per contest while giving up 78.8 per game. Xavier has an overall mark of 27-4. They are averaging 84.3 points per contest and giving up 74.5, which is a point differential of 9.8.

Valuable Texas Southern Tigers Betting Trends

The Texas Southern Tigers are 7-1 against the spread this season

The Texas Southern Tigers are 1-3 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 21-12 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 18-13 against the over/under this year

Key Texas Southern Tigers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Demontrae Jefferson averages 23.4 points per game while playing 37.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 82%. Donte Clark averages 18.6 points per game in 35 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.6 assists per contest and 5.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 40% for the year while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Trevon Bluiett averages 19.5 points per game while playing 34.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per game and has 2.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. J.P. Macura averages 12.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.4 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Texas Southern averages 77.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 82nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -1.5 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 214th. Behind the arc they shoot 36%, which is good for 121st in the country. They average 36.3 rebounds per game and 12.2 assists per game, which ranks them 121st and 283rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 202nd with 12.6 per game. The Tigers allow 78.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 320th in Division 1. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 234th and 271st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 38.3 rebounds a game which ranks 316th and they give up 15.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 320th place in college basketball. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 75th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Xavier is 11th in the country with 84.3 points per game this year. They are 17th in D-1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 9.8. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 86th in college basketball. They are 43rd in the nation in rebounding with 38.4 boards per game, and 21st in assists per contest with 16.6. The Musketeers are 228th in turnovers per game with 12.4. The Musketeers surrender 74.5 points per contest, which ranks them 235th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 129th and 101st in those defensive statistics. They rank 259th with 14.3 assists allowed per contest and 21st with 31.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Musketeers are 45th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Tigers are 288th in the country in defensive rating with 107.9, and their offensive rating of 105.9 is ranked 140th. They are 49th in college basketball in pace with 72.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 206th. As a unit they are 154th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 175th in D-1. Texas Southern is 252nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 207th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 261st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 151st in the nation. The Musketeers are 16th in the country in offensive rating with 115.6, and their defensive rating of 102.2 is ranked 168th. In terms of pace they are 66th in Division 1 with 72.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 24th. As a team they are 13th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 214th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Texas Southern/Xavier college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Xavier -21.5

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